Combined brace and fastener for hatchets.



PATENTED OCT. 9, 1906.

- S. P. RUSH. OOMBINED BRAGE AND FASTENER FOR HATOHETS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9,.1906- arranging;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TO JOHN B, BEAM, OF

TYRONE, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINED BRACE AND FASTENER FOR HATCHETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 1906.

Application filed September 9, 1905. Serial Nor 277.735.

hatchet-head and handle-brace.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of devices for securing hatchet-heads to handles and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient device of great strength and durability adapted to be readily applied to a hatchet and capa. ble of securely fastening and of strengthening the latter at the point where the same is subjected to the greatest wings and the handle and is preferably headthe head on a handle strain and is most liable to break.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a device of this character adapted to enable the hatchet to be advantageously employed for extracting heavy nails and spikes.

With these and other objects inview the. invention consists in the construction andnovel combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hatchet provided with a combined fastener and brace constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, the handle and the combined brace and fastener being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the front plate or member. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the rear plate or member. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a combined fastener and brace having a sleeve for entirely embracing the handle of a hatchet. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the sleeve portion, showing the same secured to a handle.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawmgs.

1 designates a hatchet-head having the usual eye 2 for the reception of a handle 3, which is positively secured within the eye by means of a fastener composed of front and rear plates or members 4 and 5. The front plate or member 4 embraces and conforms to the configuration of the front edge of the outer portion of the handle, and its body portion is composed of two sides or wings 6, which extend rearward from the front edge of the handle to within a short distance of the rear edge of the same, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1. and 2 of the drawings,-and which are secured to the handle by means of a transverse rivet 7 or other suitable fastening device- The fastening device 7 pierces the ed at each end, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The sides or wings 6 of thefront plate or member preferably taper, as shown in Fig. 2, and theouter portion is split'to provide a pair of extensions or lugs 8, which are bent laterally into engagement with the outer or upper edge of the head of the hatchet after the handle is inserted in the eye thereof. The eyes of hatchet-heads vary slightly in configuration, and the outer portion of the front plate or member may be split to a greater or less extent to enable it to be readily applied to various handles.

The rear plate or member 5, which extends longitudinally of the rear edge of the handle 2, has its body portion curved in cross-section to present an inner concave face to the handle of the hatchet, and its outer end is bent downward or inward to provide a rearwardly-projecting lug 9 for engaging the head of the hatchet at the back of the eye, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The inner or lower end of the rear plate or member 5 is secured to the handle 3 by means of a suitable fastening device 10. The fastening devices 7 and 10 securely fasten thefront and rear plates or members to the handle 3, and the lugs 8 and 9, which engage the upper or outer edge of the head 2, positively retain the same on the handle. The plates or members also extend inward beyond the head 2 and are adapted to reinforce or brace the handle adjacent to the head at a point where the han distance within the dle is subjected to the greatest strain and is most liable tobreak.

The blade of the head tapers toward the eye, thelower edge 11 being curved and forming a crotch 12 at the inner or lower edge of the head adjacent to the front of the eye, and each side face of the head is. recessed adjacent to the crotch 12 to provide a seat 13 for the head of a large nail or spike, One side of the crotch 12 is formed by the-front plate or member 4, which cooperates with the opposite edge 11 and which prevents the handle from being worn awayior otherwise injured when extracting heavy nails or spikes. The blade of the hatchet is also provided at its inner; or lower edge withthe usual notch 14 for extracting nails.

When greater strength isdesired, .the front and rear plates may be formed integral to provide a sleeve 15 for entirely embracing the outer portion of the handle ofa hatchet. The sleeve, which is designed to project into theeye of a-hatchet-head, .mayextend any same, and it is provided at its upper or outer end witharms or extensions :16 and 17, which are bent outward to form lugs 18-and 19 for engaging the outer or upper edge of the head of a hatchet.

lthough the combined fastener and brace is shown applied in the accompanying drawings to a'hatchet, yet it will bereadily understoodthat it is applicable to various other kindsof tools,-such as hammers and thelike, and may be advantageously employed for protecting the handles thereof and for securing theiheadson the same.

tending lugs for engaging the upper or outer edge of the head of a tool, a rear plate or -member fitted against the rear edge of the tool-handle and extended-inward beyond the head and provided at the outer end of:the-lat ter with ajrearwardly-extending lug, and fas tening devices for securing the frontlorrear plates or members to the-handle.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a head having an eye, and a handle fitted in the eye, of a combined =fastener and bracehaving a reducedportion fitted in the eye and arrangediexteriorly-of the handle and split at its outer portion to provide a pairof laterally-extending lugs, said fastener and brace beingalso provided With an enlarged inner portion extending inward beyond thehead and embracing'both sides of thehandle and conforming to the configurationiof the same.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature inithe presenceiof two witnesses.

STEPHEN P. RUSH.

Witnesses H. ,B.1CALDERWOOD, J. WM. HowE. 

